A systematic review of research on young women’s uptake, choice, and
discontinuation of contraceptives: descriptive mapping
L. Williamson, G. Hart, M. Petticrew
MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, UK
Objectives: Improving the reproductive health of sexually active young
women requires access to and appropriate use of safe and effective methods of
fertility control. The aim of this review is to produce a synthesis of research
evidence on the factors related to the uptake, choice, and discontinuation of
contraceptives among young women.
Design & Methods: A systematic review was carried out to
synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to increase
contraceptive use, and young women’s own views about contraceptive uptake,
choice and discontinuation. Data from systematic reviews, outcome evaluations,
and non-intervention research, including quantitative cross-sectional studies,
longitudinal studies and qualitative studies are included. In the descriptive
mapping stage relevant research from 1970–2003 will be identified and
described. Twenty-two electronic bibliographic databases, 7 key journals, and
the citations of relevant papers were searched.
Results: 16041 potentially relevant papers were identified and
screened for retrieval. Of these, 11048 were excluded due to irrelevant focus,
topic, population or study type. Further screening is currently underway. The
mapping process allows the range of research relevant to the topic area to be
described using broad classification terms: study type, country range,
populations, study focus and investigated factors, research designs and
methodological attributes. Studies will be classified according to the research
design used, and the inclusion or exclusion of key methodological information,
for example, the presence and comparability of control groups, the reporting of
sample size, sample demographics, response rates, and characteristics of
non-responders. The psychological, physical, family, interpersonal and
socio-cultural factors affecting the uptake, choice and discontinuation of
contraceptive methods among young women, and what they think should be done to
increase contraceptive use and reduce discontinuation will be identified. The
factors interventions have addressed will be identified and interventions that
have been effective in increasing contraceptive use and reducing discontinuation
will be highlighted. The process and the results of the descriptive mapping will
be presented, demonstrating the range, nature and content of the reviewed
research.
Conclusions: The descriptive mapping stage of the systematic review
will provide a comprehensive guide to the literature in the field, ensures the
inclusion of a wide range of research and allows gaps in intervention studies to
be identified. This will provide researchers, policy-makers and practitioners
with a comprehensive guide to the evidence to aid the future development of
research, policy and practice, and of more effective interventions.
